Gangrene is the death of body tissues due to lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection. Gangrene most commonly affects the arms and legs, including the toes, but it may also occur in the muscles and organs inside the body, such as the gallbladder..
According to the website, mayoclinic Your risk of gangrene increases if you have an underlying condition that can damage blood vessels and affect blood flow, such as diabetes or atherosclerosis..
Treatments for gangrene include surgery to restore blood flow and remove dead tissue, antibiotics if infected, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The sooner gangrene is recognized and treated, the better your chances of a cure.
When gangrene affects your skin, signs and symptoms may include::
Skin discoloration – ranges from pale to blue, purple, black, bronze, or red, depending on the type of gangrene you have.
-swelling.
– blisters
Sudden, severe pain followed by a feeling of numbness.
-Foul-smelling secretions leaking from the ulcer.
Thin, shiny skin or skin without hair.
Skin that looks cool to the touch.
Types of gangrene
Dry gangrene. This type of gangrene includes dry, scaly skin that appears brown to blue-purple or black. Dry gangrene may develop slowly and occurs most commonly in people with diabetes or blood vessel disease, such as atherosclerosis..
Wet gangrene. Wet gangrene is referred to as wet gangrene if there is a bacterial infection in the affected tissue. Swelling, blistering, and a wet appearance are common features of wet gangrene..
Wet gangrene may occur after a severe burn, frostbite, or injury. It often occurs in people with diabetes who inadvertently injure a toe or foot. Wet gangrene needs to be treated immediately because it spreads quickly and can be fatal..
Gas gangrene. Gas gangrene usually affects deep muscle tissue. If you have gas gangrene, the surface of your skin may appear normal at first..
As the condition worsens, your skin may turn pale and then turn gray or purplish red. The skin may appear bubbling and may make a crackling sound when pressed due to the gas within the tissue.
Internal gangrene. Gangrene that affects one or more of your organs, such as the intestines, gallbladder, or appendix, is called internal gangrene. This type of gangrene occurs when blood flow to one of the internal organs is blocked — for example, when the intestine bulges through a weakened area of Muscles in the stomach area (hernia) become twisted, and internal gangrene can be fatal if left untreated..
Fournier’s gangrene. Fournier’s gangrene involves the genitals. Men are affected more often, but women can also get this type of gangrene and cause infection in the genital area or urinary tract. This type of gangrene.
– gangrene of myelin, usually this rare type of gangrene and also called synergistic bacterial gangrene.